When is a car considered "old" or to have "high...

[Russell]

Interesting discussion. My 98 Ford Explorer is old (IMO) while my 95 BMW is beginning to be considered "classic". While both vehicles are well maintained, the BMW is cared for at a much higher level than the Ford.

Guess I am trying to say the Ford will be replaced much sooner than the BMW. The newer vehicle is the oldest to me!

 

[Win]

My whole fleet is old

!

My '94 Jaguar (technically a '93) is stone age, but it's OK on miles at about 73 or 74K.

The '99 S-10 is old, but who cares, it's just a stripper work truck. It might have 60K on it - I don't really keep up with it.

My '04 Jaguar is also old, but the miles are too low, 31 or 32K, to justify getting rid of it for a new one, as much as I try to rationalize it.

The three Pontiacs are getting old - not sure if they're there yet, but certainly it won't be much longer.

 

[dlundblad]

My Jeep has 150x on it and is 11 years old. Cosmetically it is in very good shape and runs like new. I am very happy with it.

My dad has a 1987 fully restored Jeep Comanche with about 90k original miles. That I consider old yet it has less miles than mine. Makes sense right? lol

 

[fdcg27]

Depends upon the car and how it's been maintained.
There are some cars of every make that should be considered old at five years, while a well looked after car that hasn't been beat on will still look good, drive well and run well after ten or twelve years and 150K.
Most posters would probably consider most of the cars we own to be old.
I see these machines as durable goods to be looked after and used as long as I can keep them running safely and reliably.
There really isn't a lot that breaks in the first fifteen years and 200K, or at least that's been my experience.
I think that the OP can reasonably expect 200K out of his Accord, particularly since he lives in a land where road salt is unknown.

 

[k24a4]

As others have stated, it is relative. Just like humans in industrialized nations are living longer, healthier, lives vehicles on average are more refined, and lasting longer.

I would argue that just as some people are blessed with good genetics and because of it age better or more gracefully, certain autos are better engineered and manufactured (good genetic stock), and with proper maintenance and care, destined for a longer life.

But age, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. As I age I appreciate vehicles on the road that have character, that are longer in the tooth, but well cared for. Although my vehicles are aging, I don't consider them old. When things start to break with regularity, well, my mind might change...

 

[surfstar]

Under 100k miles = 'new'. At least for my family.

 

[Touring5]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
That's very subjective. To me, 10 years or 200K miles would be considered old, but there is old and then there is old. Sometimes you'll come across a car that's old, but is in better shape than many of the newer cars out there, so who cares.

If it's running and you enjoy driving it, that's all that matters.

My 530i is now 12 years old...


I don't think the E39's will ever be old. IMO, a classic look.

 

[Russell]

Originally Posted By: Touring5
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
That's very subjective. To me, 10 years or 200K miles would be considered old, but there is old and then there is old. Sometimes you'll come across a car that's old, but is in better shape than many of the newer cars out there, so who cares.

If it's running and you enjoy driving it, that's all that matters.

My 530i is now 12 years old...


I don't think the E39's will ever be old. IMO, a classic look.

I don't think the E34's will ever be old. IMO, a classic look.

 

[fdcg27]

Originally Posted By: Russell
Originally Posted By: Touring5
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
That's very subjective. To me, 10 years or 200K miles would be considered old, but there is old and then there is old. Sometimes you'll come across a car that's old, but is in better shape than many of the newer cars out there, so who cares.

If it's running and you enjoy driving it, that's all that matters.

My 530i is now 12 years old...


I don't think the E39's will ever be old. IMO, a classic look.

I don't think the E34's will ever be old. IMO, a classic look.

I don't think the E36s will ever be old. IMO, a classic look

 

[dareo]

Many would consider my TDI old. It has 297,000 miles, was made in Mexico in 2002, but its still shiny, good looking, no leaks, 40+ mpg, has enough compression to start in 0 degree weather with two bad glow plugs, burns almost no oil, and generally just keeps soldering on.

So i consider it broken in with lots of life left.

I consider a car to be old when you need to swap in a newer engine or weld sheet metal in to repair rust.

 

[Jarlaxle]

Originally Posted By: NHHEMI
Originally Posted By: gregk24
Wondering what other's opinions were on when a car is considered "old", and when a car is considered to have "high mileage". I have a 2006 Accord that is in good shape, and I enjoy driving it. Im hoping it will remain in good shape as long as I have it. It has 118,100+ miles on it now, hoping it will last me 200,000+ miles if necessary.


With 118K already on the clock and at 8 years of age "to me" it is already old and long ready to be replaced. However, you certainly can feel differently. I don't know as I would "hope for" 200K more miles out of a vehicle with 118K already on it. Not unless I was prepared to do a lot of repairs.

Looks clean and assuming you are the original owner and took care of it you may make 300K. I wish you the best on your quest for 300K+. I couldn't stand having a car that long myself. I would go nuts. Longest I have kept a vehicle is 4 years and 52K.


I love people like you. You dump perfectly good cars and I can buy them cheap!

158K on my Dakota, 260+ on Liz's Blazer...I sold my Cherokee with 220K.

 

[ls1mike]

When it no longer does what it was designed to do within economic reason.